Mystery surrounds Murdock's apparent suicide

The Sports Xchange

The SportsXchangeJuly 31, 2012

Tennessee Titans wide receiver O.J. Murdock contacted a former coach and a journalist before he died, but the cause of his apparent suicide remains a mystery to family and friends, NFL.com reported. Murdock left a suicide note before he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday, but its contents have not been revealed and it's uncertain whether they will ever be made public. His older sister Kerri Murdock told the Tampa Tribune she had no idea her brother was contemplating suicide, nor did she know whether he was in any kind of trouble.. He called one of his former middle school coaches, Aesha Bailey, on Morning morning. "He just kept saying 'I'm sorry, coach. I'm sorry,' " Bailey said, according to NFL.com. "That's all he said." Bailey found Murdock dead in his car in the parking lot of Middleton High, where Murdock attended high school. Murdock also sent a text message to Tampa Tribune prep writer Bill Ward on Sunday. "Hey Mr Ward, it's OJ Murdock.... I just want to thank u for everything you've done for me and my family. Can't thank you enough," the message said. Ward responded: "Hi O.J. Thanks for those kind words. Are you recovered from the Achilles and back in camp with the (Titans)?" Murdock never responded.